Ezequiel Arias & Sebastian Sellares – Infinity

Both based in Córdoba, Argentina, Ezequiel and Sebastian first collaborated on the ‘Sky Above’ EP released via Replug Records in 2022. The two artists have long been championed by Argentinian dance music legend Hernán Cattáneo who has given DJ support to Sebastian’s music and offered Ezequiel sets at the renowned BNP Forja events in Córdoba.

‘Infinity’ takes you on a journey through progressive house with South American influence; light and tasteful percussion paired with a minimal yet inviting synth topline. ‘Alba’, literally translated as ‘dawn’ in English, is a slightly more melodic offering designed to provide a fitting soundtrack for early morning sunrises at the end of a long night.

mölly & Kazmyn – Here Again

Compelled by music’s capacity to heal, mölly, a San Francisco-based, melodic house producer, DJ, and yoga teacher, debuts into the scene with a heart driven by purpose. Her intentional productions are a euphoric blend of heartfelt melodies, emotive chord progressions and captivating vocals, designed to lead listeners on an intimate journey of connection, introspection and hope. Inspired by the sound of silence and the ocean waves, her tracks are infused with a serene yet empowering essence.

mölly’s magnetic energy has become her signature, captivating audiences worldwide and earning her a place alongside renowned artists like Christian Löffler, Eelke Kleijn, Luttrell, PRAANA, Estiva, Oliver Koletzki, Nick Warren, Elif, and more. Specializing in crafting sacred, authentic experiences, her live performances transcend what’s known, offering transformative journeys that connect audiences deeply to the present moment. A star on the rise, mölly continues to inspire and uplift, proving that when you follow your heart, the universe conspires in your favor.

mölly debuts on Colorize with a showstopping two-track EP – this is ‘Here Again’ and ‘Wild Again’!

Nox Vahn & Marsh – Come Together (Nox Vahn & Marsh Revisit)

Anjunadeep mainstays Marsh and Nox Vahn present a mesmerising ambient revisit of their 2020 breakout collaboration ‘Come Together’ to Reflections. First heard on the prolific label series ‘Anjunadeep 11’ mixed by label boss James Grant & legendary Bristolian DJ Jody Wisternoff, ‘Come Together’ features a moving spoken world sample from revered philosopher Alan Watts. The melodic house production saw the clear merging of two label stars and quickly became a fan favourite amassing over 23 million streams to date.

Together, Nox Vahn & Marsh rework their label classic ‘Come Together’ into a slow-burning beat-less interpretation, capturing the uplifting essence of the original, laced with a meditative feel.

Release Date: 1st August 2024

The easiest way to get into the meditative state is to begin by listening.
If you simply close your eyes
And allow yourself to hear all the sounds that are going on around you.
Just listen to the general hum and buzz of the world
As if you were listening to music.

Don’t try to identify the sounds you are hearing
Don’t put names on them
Simply allow them to play with your eardrums.
Let them go. In other words, let your ears hear whatever they want to hear.
Don’t judge the sounds: there are no proper sounds nor improper sounds — it’s all just sound.

As you hear sounds coming up in your head you simply listen to them
As part of the general noise going on and soon you will find
That the so-called “outside world” and the so-called “inside world”
Come Together
They are a happening
And everything is simply a habit
And all you’re doing is watching it

MOLØ – ‘Mio’ feat. Running Pine

After making her debut on the label five years ago with career-first release ‘Vanadis’ alongside Vivrant label founder Jeremy Olander, MOLØ’s put out originals on Marc Romboy’s Systematic, Anjunadeep and delivered BBC Radio 1-supported remixes for Eli & Fur as well as Duccio on Moscoman’ Disco Halal.

‘Aqua Lull’, MOLØ’s debut album, is the first of a series of short-form albums on Vivrant. Occupying the space between the traditional EP format of 2-5 tracks and full-length 10-12 track albums, the series seeks to offer label artists comprehensive artistic freedom.

MOLØ elaborates: “Over the past five years, the scene has changed. I’ve seen many small clubs and live music spaces close down, resulting in new artists being pressured to conform to what people in power say move tickets and streams. This pressure clashed with my creative process and what I was making didn’t fit the mold of a peak time set.”

Sofia Kourtesis – Dakotas

Berlin based, Peruvian artist Sofia Kourtesis has today announced her new EP Fresia Magdalena will be released 19 March via Ninja Tune imprint Technicolour. Following her breakout EP Sarita Colonia – which saw her tipped as a ‘One To Watch’ by The Observer, feature on Emerging Artist lists from DJ and Mixmag as well as being named #4 in Gorilla Vs. Bear’s ‘EPs and Mixtapes of 2020’ and appearing in this years NME 100 – the EP continues to hone her singular sound, using astutely selected samples and a joyful sense of personality and place to make something utterly infectious. Today she has also shared lead single ‘La Perla’, a track that is at once energising and meditative. Utilising her own singing voice for the first time, ‘La Perla’ clears the head in an uplifting wave before getting the body moving.

Though undeniably present in all her work, Fresia Magdalena is more rooted in Kourtesis’ native Peru than ever. On one of her regular extended trips home, the process of making the EP began with the collection of field recordings around the city of Lima where Kourtesis’ family currently live and specifically Magdalena, their district. “I look at songs like a collage” she says, “I put all the samples at the forefront and create music around them”. Then finished between Peru and Berlin, the result finds both aspects of her life bleeding effortlessly into her music and weaving around themes and a broad range of styles that remain universal. 

From the gritty and pulsating rumble of ‘Dakotas’ to the twinkling groove of ‘By Your Side’ and the exhilaration of ‘La Perla’, Kourtesis’ ability to naturally flow from one style to the next, though always with an eye on the return to the dancefloor, is ever apparent here. Thematically though, her message is simple and direct. “Fresia Magdalena is about activism” she says, “It’s about making positive changes, whoever and wherever you are”. 

A passionately vocal voice for the wellbeing of the community herself, Kourtesis here attributes this message to the person who inspires her most. “Fresia is my mother’s name” she says, “her whole life she’s fought hard for the people of Magdalena, Peru. This is my tribute to her and the other activists around the world working hard to better the lives of others. We as musicians have a responsibility to help our communities to have their voices heard, changes are needed”. 

A nod to another significant figure both to Kourtesis and to any unheard voices, the artwork for the EP draws an elegant line between previous EP Sarita Colonia and this one. “Housed within one of Lima’s biggest favelas, The Cementerio Baquijano del Callao contains a beautiful tribute to Sarita Colonia, the Patron of the Poor” Kourtesis recalls, “she’s an icon within Peru and the voice of the underrepresented. Gaining access to this cemetery is challenging as not everyone can just walk into a favela but after some negotiations we managed to gain access”. Much like the music itself these images were then collaged to create something striking and new.

Fresia Magdalena loses none of its impact when taken at its surface level – a collection of vibrant dance music that gets under the skin and lifts the mood with distinctive and addictive flourishes separating it from the pack. What really makes it unique though is the life bubbling under the surface of the collection as a whole. The influences, passions and relationships of Kourtesis as a person are behind every moment – a fierce call to action softened and presented with the warmth of family and home.  

Released March 19, 2021

Me & My Money: Making investments simple and fuss-free so there’s more family time

Ms So Sin Ting keeps her investing experience uncomplicated by choosing portfolios that are already designed and monitored.
JUN 30, 2024

So Sin Ting

SINGAPORE – Financial sector executive So Sin Ting has learnt one big thing over her 15 years in the wealth management game – keep it simple.

Ms So, 36, keeps her investing experience uncomplicated and automated by choosing portfolios that are already designed and monitored, allowing her more time for something far more valuable: her family.

“I also set up monthly recurring investments which also help me deploy my investments in a disciplined manner and grow my portfolio over time,” she adds.

“The old adage never rings truer here – it is ultimately time in the market, and not ‘timing’ the market, that is important to building wealth.

“This approach saves me a lot of time and effort, and allows me to focus on my family priorities and enjoy my child’s growing years.”

Ms So is the chief client officer at Endowus, a fund investment platform and fiduciary adviser that serves around 200,000 individuals, family offices, charities, endowments and institutions.

It is also the first digital adviser in the region to span private wealth and public pensions, so it covers Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions here.

Ms So was part of the founding team of Endowus in 2017, a fact she is proud of when she looks at how far the company has come as the largest independent wealth management platform in Asia.

“We had a clear vision to make holistic advice and institutional quality investments accessible to everyone at a low, fair, and transparent cost,” she says.

“I was incredibly excited about our mission because I really wanted to make a tangible impact, and fundamentally change the traditional wealth management business model so that we could bring better financial outcomes to everyone.”

This mission also stemmed from Ms So’s personal experience. “I always found it challenging to manage my personal wealth in a holistic manner.

“It was difficult to access institutional quality investment products as an individual investor, and I saw the difference between how banks would advise their clients to invest, versus how I would personally invest for my life goals.”

She adds that this was one of the inherent problems of the traditional wealth management industry in Asia – that the client’s best interests did not always align with the advice offered, which could also be layered with hidden fees.

“We are leading the industry by introducing greater transparency so investors can keep more of their returns and compound their wealth. That said, in many ways, we are still at the beginning of our journey and have much more that we want to do.”

Ms So believes aligning her investment decisions with her life goals also remains vital, especially with her two-year-old daughter in mind. “Becoming a mother has also definitely given me a new perspective in balancing work and family,” she says.

“Not only do I want to give my child the best in life, but I hope to be present and to be emotionally and physically available to her all through her formative and growing years.

“This also means that my money needs to work much harder for me in the background, and my investment mindset needs to encapsulate much longer-term goals.”

Ms So’s husband also runs a fund management company. The family includes three children from his previous marriage.

Q: What is in your personal portfolio?

A: My investment choices and asset allocations are based on my life goals, which help me understand how much I need to invest, the amount of cash flow I need, and the level of risk I can take. The bulk of my assets are with Endowus, via equity in the company and invested on the Endowus platform.

I invest my CPF Ordinary Account and Supplementary Retirement Scheme account. I also invest cash across three main “buckets” – a short-term liquidity bucket concentrated on cash management funds, a mid-term bucket with fixed income funds, and a longer-term bucket that comprises an equity-heavy Flagship Portfolio.

My long-term bucket with the Flagship Portfolio holds the majority of my funds, and has an asset allocation of 80 per cent equities and 20 per cent in fixed income.

On top of these three buckets, I have a small satellite portfolio invested in China funds, which unfortunately has been challenging over the last few years.

When you go through major life events, it is also an opportunity to revisit your investment plan. I have definitely changed my investing strategy since starting Endowus and having a daughter. As a mum and entrepreneur, time is my most precious commodity. It is always such a challenge carving out and dedicating time to different parts of my life.

As for further investment plans, I am thinking of allocating some money to multi-strategy hedge funds and private market funds for additional diversification and lowered volatility, for instance.

However, given that a significant part of my investments is already invested into my company and my husband is also heavily exposed to illiquid investments, I also want to be careful about adding more semi-liquid investments to my portfolios.

My financial plan goes beyond my personal investments and ensures that my family’s well-being and future are covered. We have insurance policies in place for the family, but I personally prefer to separate investments from insurance so we do not own any investment-linked insurance products.

Q: What was your biggest investing mistake? Which was your best investment?

A: Like many of us, I have made my fair share of investing mistakes. At the beginning of my investment journey, I invested in some “fad” stocks that friends recommended, which lost most of their investment value. I am not sure why we thought that we could outsmart the market!

In the last few years, some of the private venture companies that my husband and I invested in have been written down to hardly anything. Thankfully, we had put in smaller amounts of money. The big learning for me is that it is important to right-size your tactical investments. It is also important to always understand what you are invested in.

My best investment is equity in my own company. Many of us have poured in our life savings to grow Endowus, as we are in it for the long game and believe we are building the wealth management experience of the future.

Ms So Sin Ting and her two-year-old daughter, Alexandra Lauren Moey. Becoming a mother has given her a new perspective in balancing work and family. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

Q: Describe your lifestyle.

A: I own a four-bedroom apartment near Orchard with my husband. I also drive a second-hand grey Mini Cooper Clubman.

Retirement planning is extremely important to me, and is another crucial bit of education that we impart to our clients, especially women. Women statistically outlive men, and that makes saving up for retirement even more important and challenging.

That being said, I think the concept of retirement will look very different for our generation versus our parents’ generations. To me, saving enough for retirement is about having the freedom to choose when I stop working for a pay cheque, and having the freedom to pursue work that I am passionate about while being able to spend quality time with loved ones.

A lot of my values around money are shaped by my family. My father was and still is extremely frugal – you can count on two hands the number of shirts he owns. He is a strong believer in spending within his means and taught me the importance of saving for a rainy day.

However, education has always been extremely important to him. The one thing I was always allowed to spend money on growing up was books. My siblings and I have amassed a large collection of books in my parents’ home, and we hope to pass down our collection to our children one day.

Her top three investing tips:

Arm yourself with knowledge: Gaining financial literacy will really give you the confidence to take control of your financial well-being.

Invest with intention: Adopt goal-based, long-term investing strategies.

Set up automated investments: It helps keep us disciplined and takes the emotion out of investing.

M.O.S. & Bona Fide – Volga

The Volga is the longest river in Europe. Situated in Russia, it flows through Central Russia to Southern Russia and into the Caspian Sea. The Volga has a length of 3,531 km. It is widely regarded as the national river of Russia. The river flows in Russia through forests, forest steppes and steppes. Five of the ten largest cities of Russia, including the nation’s capital, Moscow, are located in the Volga’s drainage basin.

Why Israel is in deep trouble: John Mearsheimer with Tom Switzer

US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said on 29 September 2023 that “The Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades.” That all changed on October 7 when Hamas attacked Israel, which unsurprisingly invaded Gaza to destroy Hamas. After more than six months, it appears to many that Israel is losing its war in Gaza.

At the same time, Israel is fighting Hezbollah on its northern border, relations between Jerusalem and Washington are strained, and the International Court of Justice has ruled that a plausible case can be made that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.

Meanwhile, there is great danger of escalation across the region, as the fighting between Israel and Iran makes clear. Indeed, there is a possibility the United States, which is already fighting the Houthis, might end up in a war with Iran, which neither country wants.

Braxton & Warung – The Truth

‘The Truth / The Fall’ is the new double A-side from Brighton-based artist Braxton, marking the producer’s fifth Anjunadeep label release. Braxton’s expert grasp of synth-driven melodic house and breakbeat has seen him become a regular across the Anjunadeep catalogue since his debut in 2019.

So far, he has featured on four flagship label compilations (Anjunadeep 11, 12, 13 & 14), collaborated with label heads James Grant & Jody Wisternoff, and remixed the likes of Above & Beyond and Marsh, clocking over 3.3 million streams on his original Anjunadeep releases alone. ‘The Truth’, a collaboration with rising Bostonian duo Warung, first premiered on Anjunadeep 14, and combines a simple, yet effective, melody with a catchy hook and weighty breakbeat ready to command the biggest of dance floors.

The release couples this offering with the energetic swell of gated trance-like vocals and arpeggios in ‘The Fall’, adding two more originals to the Braxton discography that further cement why he’s garnered support from BBC Radio 1, Kiss FM and KCRW as well as DJs including Gorgon City, Joris Voorn and Eelke Kleijn.

Release Date: 26th May 2023